Squeegee



M. BORDEN Feb. 4, 1941.

SQUEEGEE Filed March 30, 1940 Patented Feb; 4, 1941 UNIT ED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application Marcho,

8` Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a squeegee.

More specifically, the invention` proposes the construction of a squeegeehaving an adjustable head arranged in a manner. to be adjusted to accommodate rubber strips-of different lengths to permit the operative size of the squeegee to be adjusted to meet theA requirements of dilerently sized windows.

Still further it is proposed to provide a means for releasably clamping the rubber strips between the'adjacent faces of a frontvstrip unit and a rear strip unit in a manner so that the strip units maybe separated for releasing the rubber strips.

A further object o this invention is the construction of each of the strip units ofA separate sections slidably engaging each other in such a mann'erthat they may be` increased ordecreased in length as'desired.

Stilly further it is proposed to provide avhandle for thel squeegee which has one of its ends swivelly attached to one of the strip units to permit th'e handle to assume various pivoted positions with relation :to thehead of the squeegee to permit the device to be adjusted foruse on win-` dows having a limited amount o-f space at the edges thereof.

Stillfurther it is proposed to provide the squeegeewith a gauge for engagementl with the window pane being cleanedforholding the squeegee at a proper angle tocause the exposed edges ofthe rubber strips to enga-ge the window plane at a proper angle to awlessly wipe the water. therefrom.

Another object of the invention is ,the construction of adevice as mentioned which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the obj ects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features ofthe invention' are morev particularly set forth'.

the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig;` 1' is a perspective view ofV a squeegee constructed-irr accordance-with thisinvention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational viewA of the squeegee 50 shown in position upon a window pane, shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a bottom sectional view of'the squeegee looking inthe direction of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is arr enlarged sectional View taken on 55 the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

1940, serial No. 326,848

Fig.k 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 isa vertical sectional view taken on the line G--lv of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a perspective View of .a certain block,. i` per se, shown inFig..5.

Fig. 8l is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4. but taken at the position of the line 8-8 in Fig. 9.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8 and illustratinganextended position of L0,

one end of the rear. strip. unit.

Fig. 10 is aperspective view of one ofthe narrow plates per se, shown in Fig. 9.

The squeegee,.according to` this invention, comprises a front strip unit I0 having a central` strip 15 section IIJa and end ,stripsections Ib. Theend strip sections Ib are slidably supportedon the endsof the central. strip section Illa. by bent. edge portions Ibb of fthe end strip sections lub engagthe edges of the central strip section Ilia. This y20 causes the end strip sections IIlb to be telescopically engaged on the endsof the *central strip portion Illa. A rear stripunit II is constructed similarly to the. front. strip unit I0 and comprisesa central strip section IIa and end` stripy sections g5 IIb.` The end stripysections- I Ib are slidably engagedupon-the ends ofthe central section I la by bentedges IIbb of the end strip sections engaging around the edges of the central strip section IIa` This causes fthe end strip sections IIb tobe 30 telescopically supported upon the ends ofthe central strip section I Ia for permitting the length ci the-rear stripk unit I I- to be adjusted similar to any adjustments made to the front strip section IIl. Narrow strips of rubber material. I2 and. I3 are engaged between theadjacent faces o-f thefront strip unit I0 and the rear strip unit II. These rubber strips I2' and I3 are inv face contact with each other, and the strip I2 is slightly wider than 40 the strip I3. The adjacent bottom edgesV of the strips I2'- and I3 are arranged flush with eacli other and the top edge of the strip I2 is projected slightly beyond the top edge of the strip I3.

Narrow plates I4 are slidably mounted on the outer end portions of the end strip sections IIb of the rear strip unit I I. These narrow plates I4 have their ends engaged beneath the inturned edges I Ibb of the end strip sections IIb for slidably supporting the same thereon. The free ends of the end strip sections I Ib` are provided with lugs I5 extended to the same sides of the end strip sections I Ib` as the edges IIbb, for acting as a means for preventing the narrow plates I4 from 55 being accidentally disengaged from the end strip sections IIb. The central strip portion Ila of the strip unit II is slightly shorter than the central strip portion IIla of the front strip unit II) and in the completely collapsed position of the squeegee, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the narrow plates I4 occupy that space Within the end sections IIb provided by the shortened central section I Ia.

Screws I6 are mounted on the end. strip sections IIlb of the front strip unit I0 and passthrough openings n the central strip section Illa and openings in Ithe rubber strips I2 and I3 and engage the central strip portion I I a of the strip unit I I. This central strip portion I I a is formed with inwardly extended bosses I'I into which the ends of the screws I6 threadedly engage for drawing the front and rear strip units together. Similarly, screws I8 are mounted on the end strip sections IIlb of the front .strip unit ID andpass through openings in the central strip section Illa and openings in the rubber strips I2 and I3 and engage the narrow plates I4 ofthe rear unit II. These narrow plates I4 are also provided with bosses I9 into which the screws I8 are threadedly engaged for drawing the front and rear strip units together.

The screws I6 and I8 pass through inwardly extended elongated slots 20 formed in the end strip sections IIlb of the front strip unit I 0. These slots 20 extend inwards from the adjacent inner ends of the end strip sections Illb. Bridging elements 2I are attached to the material of the end strip sections I Db on opposite sides of the slots 20 for connecting the opposite sides thereof together, and the bridging elements further bridge the open end of the slots 2U so as not to interfere with the passage of the heads of the screws I6 and I8 from the slot 20 when the screws are in 'their loosened position and the end strip sections IUbare moved outwards. This permits the end strip sections I0b to be freely slid on the ends of the central section Illa. The outer ends of the end sections I 0b are provided with upwardly extending fingers 22 which engage the front face of the strip I2 at the ends thereof for stiffening these ends and causing the same to bear evenly against the window pane, as shown in Fig. 2.

'Ihe rear strip unit II has a plate 23 securely attached to the central portion of its central strip section IIa (see Fig. 3). This plate 23 projects beyond the rear edge of the rear strip unit I I and carries a tubular socket 24. A handle 25, constructed of tubular material has one of its ends swivelly engaged through the socket 24, and the end thereof is provided with a, head 26 for preventing the handle 25 from being accidentally disengaged from the tubular socket 24. A thumb screw 21 is threadedly engaged through one side of the socket 24 and bears against the end of the handle 25 for xedly holding the handle in position upon the squeegee. The screw 21 may be loosened for freeing the handle 25 for permitting the same to be swivelled into any-desired angular position for permitting the squeegee to be used for wiping the edges of windows having a limited amount of space at the sides thereof.

'I'he free end of the handle 25 is further provided with a gauge for causing the rubber strips I 2v and I3 to be held at a proper angle with relation to the window pane being cleaned for causing water thereon to be iiawlessly wiped oi. This gauge comprises a block 28 mounted within the end portion cf the handle 25. To accomplish this the end of the handle 25 is provided with cutouts 29 and 3|) aligned with each other and in the front and rear faces thereof. The material 29a cut from the handle 25 to form the opening 29 is bent rearwards and extends from opposite sides of the opening 29. The block 28 is provided with outwardly extending trunnion elements 3| which engage complementary openings 32 formed in the rearwardly bent ilanges 29a for swivelly supporting the block 28. A screw 33 is threadedly engaged through the block 28. The block 28 is formed with a threaded opening 34 for the screw 33, which extends at right angles to an imaginary line coaxially extended through the trunnion elements 3I. The free end of the screw 33 carries a rubber abutment or head 35 which is adapted to bear against the window pane A as shown in Fig. 2.

The screw 33 is adapted to be adjusted inwards and outwards with relation to the block 28 to permit the same to be adjusted to meet particular requirements, and to cause the strips I2 and I3 to properly engage the window pane. A lock nut 36 is threadedly engaged on the screw 33 and is adapted to be clamped against the adjacent face of the block 28 for locking the screw 33 in its adjusted positions. A means is further provided for holding the gauge in a position extended at right angles to the handle 25 or in a position extended longitudinally from the end of the handle as illustrated by the dot and dash lines 33 in Fig. 2. One side of the block 28 is provided with an outwardly extended projection 31 which is selectively engageable with one of a pair of inwardly extended recesses 39 formed on the adjacent face of one of the rearwardly extended flanges 29a of the handle 25.

The operation of this invention is as follows:

The squeegee is sold with a plurality of rubber strips I2 and I3 of different lengths, and possibly widths, which are adapted to be selectively engaged between the adjacent faces of the front and rear strip units I0 and II. Note is taken of the sizes of the windows to be washed, and rubber strips of a convenient length are engaged between the adjacent faces of the strip units I0 and Il for a particular group of windows, as hereinbefore described. The squeegee is then ready for use. To flawlessly wipe the window the rubber elements I 2 and I3 are engaged against the pane A to be wiped and the gauge is brought into play by causing the screw 33 to be extended at right angles to the free end of the handle 25. The abutment or head 35 is then caused to bear against the pane A at points below the rubber elements I2 and I3, and the squeegee is moved downwards in a manner similar to all squeegees.

Due to the fact that the gauge has been set to cause the rubber elements I2 and I3 to be properly angularly positioned with relation to the pane of gl-ass, all of the water thereon will be wiped therefrom and no streaks will remain on the pane of glass with one good stroke.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the lprecise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modications coming within the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what IA claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a squeegee, a front strip unit having a central strip section and? end stripsections with inwardly bent edgev portions engaging? the edges section, a rear strip unit having a central strip section and end strip sections with inwardly bent edge portions engaging the edges of said latter central strip section whereby the latter end strip sections are slidably mounted on the latter central strip section, rubber strips between said front and rear strip units, narrow plates slidably mounted on the outer end portions of the end strip sections of said rear strip unit, and fastening elements mounted on the end strip sections of said front strip unit and passing through openings in said rubber strips and engaging the central strip section and the narrow plates of said rear strip unit.

2. In a squeegee, a front strip unit having a central strip section and end stripsections with inwardly bent edge portions engaging the edges of said central strip section whereby the end strip sections are slidably mounted on the central strip section, a rear strip unit having a central strip section and end strip sections with inwardly bent edge portions engaging the edges `of said latter central strip section whereby the latter and strip sections are slidably mounted on the latter central strip section, rubber strips between said front and rear strip units, narrow plates slidably mounted on the outer end portions of the end strip sections of said rear strip unit, and fastening elements mounted on the end strip sections of said front strip unit and passing through openings in said rubber strips and engaging the central strip section and the narrow plates ofsaid rear strip unit, said fastening elements being in the form of screws.

3. In a squeegee, a front strip unit having a central strip section and end strip sections with inwardly bent edge portions engaging the edges of said central strip section whereby the end strip sections are slidably mounted on the central strip section, a rear strip unit having a central strip section and end strip sections with inwardly bent edge portions engaging the edges of said latter central strip section whereby the latter end strip sections are slidably mounted on the latter central strip section, rubber strips between said front and rear strip units, narrow plates slidably mounted on the outer end portions of the end strip sections of said rear strip unit, and fastening elements mounted on the end strip sections of said iront strip unit and passing through openings in said rubber strips and engaging the central strip section and the narrow plates of said rear strip unit, said fastening elements being in the form of screws, said central strip section of said rear strip unit and said narrow plates being formed with bosses into which said screws are adapted to be threadedly engaged.

4. In a squeegee, a front strip unit having a central strip section and end strip sections with inwardly bent edge portions engaging the edges of said central strip section whereby the end strip sections are slidably mounted on the central strip section, a rear strip unit having a central strip section and end strip sections with inwardly bent edge portions engaging ythe edges of said latter central strip section whereby the latter end strip sections are slidably mounted on the latter central strip section, rubber strips between said front and rear strip units, narrow plates slidably mounted on the outer end portions of the end strip sections of said rear strip unit, and fastening elements mounted on the end strip sections of' v said-front strip-'unit and'passing through openof saidcentral strip section wherebythe end 'strip sections are slidably mounted on the central stripings in said-rubber strips and engaging the central strip section and the narrow plates of said rear lstrip unit, saidl fastening elements being extended-through elongated slots formed in the end strip sections of said front strip unit, lsaid slots being extended inwards from the adjacent ends of the end strip sections, and bridging elements attached to the material of said end strip sections on either side of said slot for connecting the ends of said strip sections together.

5. In a squeegee, a front strip unit having a central strip section and end strip sections with inwardly bent edge portions engaging the edges of said central strip section whereby the end strip sections are slidably mounted on the central strip section, a rear strip unit having a central strip section and end strip sections with inwardly bent edge portions engaging the edges of said latter central strip section whereby the latter end strip sections are slidably mounted on the latter central strip section, rubber' strips between said front and rear strip units, narrow plates slidably mounted on the outer end portions of the end strip sections of said rear strip unit, and fastening elements mounted on the end strip sections of said front strip unit and passing through openings in said rubber strips and engaging the central strip section and the narrow plates of said rear strip unit, said end strip sections of said front strip unit being formed with upwardly extending ngers for engaging the ends of said rubber strips for imparting rigidity thereto.

6. In a squeegee, a front strip unit, a rear strip unit attached to said front strip unit, rubber strips between said front and rear units, a handle for the squeegee attached on one of said units, and a gauge mounted on the squeegee for engaging a window pane being cleaned with the squeegee and adapted to hold said rubber strips at a predetermined angle to said window pane, said gauge comprising a block turnably mounted within the end of said handle, a screw threadedly engaged -through said block, and an abutment mounted on the free end of said screw and engageable against said window pane.

7. In a sdueegee, a front strip unit, a rear strip unit attached to said front strip unit, rubber strips between said front and rear units, a handle for the squeegee `attached on one of said units, and a gauge mounted on the squeegee for engaging a window pane being cleaned with the squeegee and adapted to hold said rubber strips at a predetermined angle to said window pane, said gauge comprising a block vturnably mounted within the end of said handle, a screw threadedly engaged through said block, and an abutment mounted on the free end of said screw and engageable against said window pane, and means for holding said screw in a position in which said abutment will be engaged against said window pane or in which said screw will be extended coaxially from the end of said handle.

8. In a squeegee, a front strip unit, a rear strip unit attached to said front strip unit, .rubber strips between said front and rear units, a handle for the squeegee attached on one of said units, and a gauge mounted on the squeegee for engaging a window pane being cleaned with the squeegee and adapted to hold said rubber strips at a predetermined angle to said window pane, said gauge comprising a block turnably mounted within the end of said handle, a screw threadedly engaged through said block, and an abutment mounted on the free end of said screw and engageable against said window pane, and means for holding said screw in a position in which said abutment will be engaged against said window pane or in which said screw will be extended coaxially from the end of said handle, said means comprising a projection formed on said block and selectively engageable with complementary recesses formed in an adjacent portion of said handle.

MAX BORDEN. 

